I think everyone who loves music is probably thinking about John Lennon today, on what would have been his 70th birthday. Though his life was tragically short, I think it's safe to say he will never be forgotten. His songs, thoughts, concepts, will continue to inspire people on and on....

It's impossible to choose a favorite track. Each of Lennon's best songs, especially over time as his career wore on in the Beatles and beyond, presents a different mood, a tiny world, a personal statement. And I think the thing that endears John to us is his brutal honesty and genuine, plain emotion coupled with the fact that he was clearly and continually grappling with the world and his place in it, just like all of us. That he was taken so tragically and unnecessarily is beyond heartbreaking.

Today, September 21st, is World Peace Day 2010, with many scheduled events already ongoing or about to take place all around the world. One World Peace Day event is the wonderful streaming webcast today that features performance from such artists asPatti Smith and Youssou N'Dour. To view this stream or get more information click here.

Of course, while nearly all of us agree that every day should be a day of peace round the world, it clearly is not. Unfortunately, it still seems that certain individuals in power around the globe will never heed the message of World Peace Day. Sadly, war and the (mostly male) greed and ego that motivate it are as old as time itself and show no signs of stopping anytime soon.

But just like the steps forward that have been made in civil rights in recent decades, I like to think that the message of the peace movement and events like this will also eventually sink into the stubborn heads of those who create wars and are responsible for the unnecessary deaths of so many.

To the world leaders responsible for war I say, give peace a chance! We know from experience that war doesn't work.

Everything about talented Brooklyn hip-hop duo Junk Science, who very recently released their third album A Miraculous Kind Of Machine, seems to relate back to New York City and also manages to create something new & innovative. Comprised of emcee Baje One and DJ/producer Snafu, Junk Science's last album, 2007's Gran'Dads Nerve Tonic on Embedded/Definitive Jux Records, involved them teaming up with their local Brooklyn brewery Sixpoint Craft Ales, who made a special limited edition promotional beer specifically for the rap duo. And for their latest album, released on Baje One's recently set up, Brooklyn based Modern Shark record label, they plan on releasing a series of limited edition toys to tie in with the label's output -- all made in the basement of Brooklyn emcee Tone Tank, whose next album will be released on Modern Shark in September. Meantime, the engrossing John Ta directed video (above) for the new Junk Science album track "Really, Man" reenacts the tragic interaction between one time famous NYC resident John Lennon and his deranged fan/killer Mark David Chapman. The clip was all filmed in New York City with an innovative and (happily) much less tragic spin on the outcome of that infamous meeting between artist and obsessed fan.

"It was twenty years ago today. Sgt Pepper taught the band to play," go the famous Fab Four lyrics, but the hilarious Beatles 3000 clip above, courtesy of Zoltarkilland www.scottgairdner.com, travels a thousand years forward into the imaginary future to examine "the legacy of John, Paul, Greg, and Scottie." Starring Ryan Mitchell, Perry Smith, Scott Gairdner, Brian Lyman, and Nick Mundy, this inspired ensemble of witty satirists imagine how future anthropologists and historians might attempt to (but fall way short of) retelling the accurate history of a pop group called The Beatles.

In addition to getting the line-up incorrect (John Lennon, Paul McKenzie, Greg Hutchinson, and Scottie Pippen), these imaginary history tellers in the year 3000 also hilariously fudge facts about Beatles songs and album titles, crediting "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Don't Stop Believin" to the Fab Four and naming their hit single "Ticket To Run" and one of their albumsSgt. Petsounds & The Spiders From Asia. (Sgt Pepper's has been parodied before many times including by The Simpsons, left). Beatles 3000 offers other numerous and hilarious Beatles history faux pas and the 3 & 3/4 minute clip (made back in November) is well worth viewing if you have not seen it already.

My actual heroes in this world are few and disparate. From Harry Houdini to Laurie Anderson, from John Lennon to Mrs. Mary Eales, they reflect people who may inspire and impact me with their art, their political activism, their bold-faced chutzpah, or any combination thereof.

But perhaps no one embodies all these traits to such heightened super-awesomeness for me than the great Paul Robeson.

Rad.

Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1898. His father was an escaped slave-turned-church minister; his mother was from a Quaker family, and died tragically when Paul was six, which isn’t funny at all, so don’t laugh.

Paul received a full academic scholarship to attend Rutgers University, which I hear is a pretty good school, though I’ve never been there myself because I’m allergic to schools. Seriously. If I even step foot on a campus I start itching, sweating, and my head comes completely off and falls to the ground and rolls away.